User programmable switch

Abstract

The various methods and devices described herein relate to devices which, in at least certain embodiments, may include at least one mechanical switch for user to select a user profile interface setting and at least one processor for causing the device to respond to the mechanical switch. The mechanical switch may be dedicated for the purpose of switching profiles and may allow for a selection of a plurality of profiles. Further, in conjunction with an optional shift key, the user may select preferences programmed within a profile.

1. A portable data processing device comprising:
 a display; 
 an input device; 
 a switch having a plurality of separate and independent switch positions which comprise a first switch position and a second switch position, the switch being configured to switch among a plurality of user interface profile settings which comprise a first profile setting and a second profile setting; and 
 at least one processor coupled to the input device and to the display and coupled to the switch to receive an output from the switch, the processor being configured to assign each one of a subset of the plurality of user interface profile settings to a corresponding one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions of the switch such that the processor is configured to assign the first profile setting to the first switch position and is configured to assign the second profile setting to the second switch position of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, and the processor is configured to determine and select, based on the output of the switch, one set of values from the plurality of user interface profile settings, 
 wherein a quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings is more than a quantity of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions of the switch, 
 wherein the assigned profile settings of the plurality of user interface profile settings are less than the quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings such that the assigned profile settings are subset of the quantity of plurality of user interface profile settings, 
 wherein the switch is configured to receive a user's finger to select one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, and when the user's finger contacts the switch, the switch positions of the switch change from one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions to another of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions. 
 
     
     
       2. The portable data processing device as in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of user interface profile settings each contains mirroring fields. 
     
     
       3. The portable data processing device as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a radiofrequency (RF) transceiver coupled to the processor; and wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a user is communicating with another device through the RF transceiver. 
 
     
     
       4. The portable data processing device as in  claim 3  wherein the input device is at least one of a keypad with discrete keys having an electrical switch for each discrete key representing at least one alphanumeric character and (b) a touch input panel having a selected area on the touch input panel for each key representing at least one alphanumeric character. 
     
     
       5. The portable data processing device as in  claim 4  further comprising:
 a speaker coupled to the RF transceiver; 
 a microphone coupled to the RF transceiver; 
 a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device being configured to store media for playback on the portable data processing device. 
 
     
     
       6. The portable data processing device as in  claim 1  wherein the display occupies at least 75 percent of a surface of a housing of the portable device. 
     
     
       7. The portable data processing device as in  claim 6  wherein the input device comprises a touch input panel having a selected area on the touch input panel for each key representing at least one alphanumeric character and wherein the touch input panel is integrated with the display. 
     
     
       8. The portable data processing device as in  claim 7  wherein the portable data processing device comprises a mobile telephone and wherein the media for playback comprises at least one of audio or video or audio and video combined. 
     
     
       9. The portable data processing device as in  claim 1  wherein the input device comprises a multi-touch input panel which is integrated with the display and which is capable of determining multiple, separate concurrent touches on the multi-touch input panel and wherein the multi-touch input panel provides touch data derived from one or more touches to the multi-touch input panel. 
     
     
       10. The portable data process device as in  claim 1  wherein the user interface profile settings further comprising at least one of background wallpaper settings, display brightness settings, communication settings, media settings and a combination of any of the aforementioned settings. 
     
     
       11. The portable data processing device as in  claim 1  wherein an activation of the switch leads to at least one of an audio or tactile or a visual response confirming the activation of the switch. 
     
     
       12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a portable data processing device cause the portable data processing device to perform a method comprising:
 assigning each one of a subset of a plurality of user interface profile settings of a portable data processing device, comprising a first profile setting and a second profile setting, to a corresponding one of a plurality of separate and independent switch positions of a switch comprising a first switch position and a second switch position such that the first profile setting is assigned to the first switch position and the second profile setting is assigned to the second switch position of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, wherein a quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings is more than a quantity of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions of the switch, wherein the assigned profile settings of the plurality of user interface profile settings are less than the quantity of the plurality user interface profile settings such that the assigned profile settings are a subset of the quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings, wherein the switch is configured to receive a user's finger to select one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, and when the user's finger contacts the switch, the switch positions of the switch change from one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions to another of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions; 
 receiving an actuation of the switch to switch among the plurality of user interface profile settings; 
 receiving an electrical output corresponding to the actuation of the switch; and 
 setting parameters in accordance with a selected user interface profile setting of the portable data processing device. 
 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 12  wherein the plurality of user interface profile settings each contains mirroring fields. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 12  further comprising executable program instructions which when executed cause the portable data processing device to perform:
 receiving an actuation of a shift button on the portable processing device simultaneous to the actuation of the dedicated mechanical switch; and 
 receiving a different electrical output from the simultaneous actuations of both the shift button and the mechanical switch compared to the actuation of the mechanical switch alone at each of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 12  wherein the portable data processing device further comprises:
 a display; 
 an input device; and 
 at least one processor coupled to the input device and to the display and coupled to the switch to receive an output from the switch. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 15  wherein the input device is at least one of a keypad with discrete keys having an electrical switch for each discrete key representing at least one alphanumeric character and (b) a touch input panel having a selected area on the touch input panel for each key representing at least one alphanumeric character. 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 15  wherein the portable data processing device further comprises:
 a speaker coupled to a RF transceiver; 
 a microphone coupled to the RF transceiver; 
 a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device being configured to store media for playback on the portable data processing device. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 17  wherein the input device comprises a touch input panel having a selected area on the touch input panel for each key representing at least one alphanumeric character and wherein the touch input panel is integrated with the display and wherein the portable telephone device does not include a hinge. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in  claim 12  wherein the user interface profile settings further comprise at least one of background wallpaper settings, display brightness settings, communication settings, media settings and a combination of any of the aforementioned settings. 
     
     
       20. A portable data processing device comprising:
 a multi-touch input panel configured to determine multiple, separate concurrent touches on the multi-touch input panel; 
 a display device integrated with the multi-touch input panel; 
 a switch having a plurality of separate and independent switch positions which comprise a first switch position and a second switch position, the switch being configured to switch among a plurality of user interface profile settings which comprise a first profile setting and a second profile setting; and 
 at least one processor coupled to the multi-touch input panel and coupled to the switch to receive an output from the switch, the processor being configured to assign each one of a subset of the plurality of user interface profile settings to a corresponding one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions of the switch such that the processor is configured to assign the first profile setting to the first switch position and is configured to assign the second profile setting to the second switch position of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, and the processor is configured to determine and select, based on the output of the switch, a set of values from one of the plurality of user interface profile settings, 
 wherein a quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings is more than a quantity of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions of the switch, 
 wherein the assigned profile settings of the plurality of user interface profile settings are less than the quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings such that the assigned profile settings are a subset of the quantity of the plurality of user interface profile settings, 
 wherein the switch is configured to receive a user's finger to select one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions, and when the user's finger contacts the switch, the switch positions of the switch change from one of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions to another of the plurality of separate and independent switch positions. 
 
     
     
       21. The portable data processing device as in  claim 20  wherein the plurality of user interface profile settings each contains mirroring fields. 
     
     
       22. The portable data processing device as in  claim 21  further comprising:
 a speaker coupled to a RF transceiver; 
 a microphone coupled to the RF transceiver; 
 a storage device coupled to the processor, the storage device being configured store media for playback on the portable data processing device. 
 
     
     
       23. The portable data process device as in  claim 20  wherein the user interface profile settings further comprise at least one of background wallpaper settings, display brightness settings, communication settings, media settings and a combination of any of the aforementioned settings. 
     
     
       24. The portable data process device as in  claim 20  wherein the activation of the switch leads to at least one of an audio or tactile or a visual response confirming the activation of the switch.